Rebecca was born in Rome, N.Y., and lived in Massachusetts, North Dakota and New York while her father served in the Air Force, before settling in Santa Clara, California her senior year of high school.

Her undergraduate degree is from DePauw University, in Greencastle, Indiana. Afterwards, at the

University of California, Riverside, she completed an M.A in English Literature, with a focus in Medieval and Renaissance Literature.

When her husband's job transferred the family to Pittsburgh, she planned to finish her Ph.D. but wasn't able to find a similar program locally. Her pastor, knowing that she was trying to figure out what was next, asked if she had ever considered going to seminary. That was the first moment of her call, and many confirmations have followed. She has completed her M. Div. degree and graduates from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary on May 27, 2022.

During the 18 years she was at home raising her four children, she became an accredited La Leche League leader, taking calls and leading meetings for 17 years, helping new parents with breastfeeding and parenting concerns. Rebecca taught several years of English writing classes to first-year college students, including to many who spoke English as a second (or third) language. Her passions in ministry include Scripture study, writing, and working one-on-one with people.

Her family includes her husband and four children. Personal interests include reading in a wide range of genres, knitting, and gardening, and sometimes cooking.